Brugmansia

Chapter 9🌹

              Two days had passed, and Sunday morning rolled around. I groaned as I dragged myself out of bed, knowing I had combat training. After getting ready, Xenos and I made our way to the teleportation tree, the air crisp and quiet around us. As we stood before the gnarled tree, I turned to him. "See you later," I said, giving a small wave.

But instead of his usual grunt or nod, Xenos shot me a look—a strange, almost knowing glance that made me pause. "What?" I asked, confused. He just rolled his eyes and, with a click of his fingers, disappeared, leaving me and Aurora standing there, equally baffled.

I didn't have time to dwell on it, so I sprinted to class, still wondering what that was about. When I burst into the room, panting slightly, I stopped in my tracks. There, standing at the front, was Xenos, wearing a white button-up shirt and black pants, his black hair tied neatly in a bun. My confusion quickly melted into laughter.

"That's why you gave me that look!" I said between laughs. "You're the teacher!"

Xenos simply crossed his arms, his expression flat. "You're late. Get in line."

I got in line, and as usual, I noticed the distance everyone kept from me, the sideways glances, the whispers. I'd grown used to it by now, though I still didn't know why they were like this. It was always the same—like I didn't belong here, like I was... different.

Xenos started calling everyone up, one by one, to check their combat levels. When he finally reached me, his eyes narrowed. "Sage, three tries to make me fall," he said coldly.

I stepped forward, feeling the tension rise in the room. My first attempt was clumsy—I tried to get around him, but before I could even make a move, he slammed his wooden sward hard into my shoulder. Pain shot through me, and I couldn't help the moan that escaped my lips.

He leaned in, his voice barely a whisper, but sharp. "Weak. If you keep crying, nothing will change."

The words cut deep. Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself up, determined to try again. But as I moved to attack, he hit me even harder this time, using his magic to fling me clear across the room. I crashed into the wall, pain radiating through my body, and the laughter started. Quiet at first, but then growing louder—everyone was laughing at me.

The anger inside me boiled over. As Xenos approached, his footsteps slow and deliberate, I could feel something rising within me. When he reached me, that feeling burst out, and I screamed.

Suddenly, Xenos was flung to the other side of the room. The room fell into complete silence. I opened my eyes, panting, to see everyone staring at me in shock, their expressions frozen in disbelief.

I had done that.

I scrambled to my feet, heart pounding, and ran to Xenos. I couldn't believe what I had done—I needed to check if he was okay. But just as I got close, he pushed me back with the flat of his wooden sword. The movement was swift, dismissive, as he stood up on his own.

"Everyone, take a rest while I grade you," he said, his voice steady despite what had just happened. His tone left no room for argument, and the class immediately scattered to sit down.

I found a spot on the ground with my fairy, still reeling from what had happened. My mind was spinning, trying to make sense of it. How had I done that? I wasn't supposed to have magic—at least, none that I could control. But that... that was definitely me. I could still hear the students whispering, their eyes darting toward me, but I was too lost in my thoughts to care.